BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Which pill was the poisonous one??

**Posted by Sam** October 14, 2012 8:36 pm

The one thing that disappointed me in this episode is that we didn't find out if Sherlock was right. And he seemed to just take a guess. I wanted to hear a deduction on why the pill he chose was the right one.

**Posted by The Doctor** October 16, 2012 4:28 am

Sam wrote:
The one thing that disappointed me in this episode is that we didn't find out if Sherlock was right.

I bet that was rather the point - driving us and Sherlock mad!

**Posted by Sam** October 16, 2012 5:51 am

The Doctor wrote:
Sam wrote:
The one thing that disappointed me in this episode is that we didn't find out if Sherlock was right.
I bet that was rather the point - driving us and Sherlock mad!

Too true!

**Posted by saturnR** October 19, 2012 10:58 am

The Doctor wrote:
Sam wrote:
The one thing that disappointed me in this episode is that we didn't find out if Sherlock was right.
I bet that was rather the point - driving us and Sherlock mad!

I highly doubt that either pill was safe to eat. It's just more fun when you can believe that you had a fifty fifty chance. I think both pills were poisonous to begin with. It's all in the theatrics. You're so busy watching the pills that you don't look at the cabbie - like a magician's trick.

Cabbie: I'm gonna eat this one now.
Show's audience: Yeah right. You made a slight of mouth & expect us to believe you.
Cabbie: Sherlock believed me.
Audience: He's as much a drama queen as you are. Actually he's better at the theatrics part than you.
Cabbie's ghost after John has shot him: I'll have my revenge...

Last edited by saturnR (October 19, 2012 10:58 am)

**Posted by Harriet** October 19, 2012 11:06 am

Classic crime plots would in that case suggest an antidote the cabbie had taken earlier ...

**Posted by Sam** October 23, 2012 12:58 am

saturnR wrote:
The Doctor wrote:
Sam wrote:
The one thing that disappointed me in this episode is that we didn't find out if Sherlock was right.
I bet that was rather the point - driving us and Sherlock mad!
I highly doubt that either pill was safe to eat. It's just more fun when you can believe that you had a fifty fifty chance. I think both pills were poisonous to begin with. It's all in the theatrics. You're so busy watching the pills that you don't look at the cabbie - like a magician's trick.

Aaaah, truuuue...........

**Posted by veecee** October 23, 2012 2:30 am

Or maybe the cabbie was ready to go, believing that Moriary would make a big payout to his kids if he killed Sherlock. I don't really think that's it. It's just an idea.

**Posted by Iwantthatcoat** October 29, 2012 8:39 pm

I am disappointed Sherlock didn't pocket the pill and analyze it chemically to see if he was right. Of course, I use the Princess Bride theory also ( that they were both poisoned)

**Posted by tobeornot221b** October 29, 2012 9:26 pm

I think the whole pill business is overrated and just one example of how Sherlock "ticks". It's not relevant whether the pill he chose was "good" or "bad". The fact that he exposes himself for (unnecessary) danger just shows how urgently he needs someone by his side, someone like John, who will be saving him from himself.

**Posted by Davina** October 29, 2012 9:33 pm

The pills are an integral part of A Study in Scarlet which is the basis for A Study in Pink.

**Posted by SusiGo** October 29, 2012 9:33 pm

You've got a point there. Which reminds me of something I saw on tumblr today which is a bit off topic but just a bit: The last thing John says to Sherlock face to face is: "Friends protect you." Which is just what he doesn't manage to do.

**Posted by Davina** October 29, 2012 9:34 pm

But Sherlock does. Oops TRF topic really.

**Posted by tobeornot221b** October 29, 2012 9:51 pm

Davina wrote:
The pills are an integral part of A Study in Scarlet which is the basis for A Study in Pink.

Of course I know this, Davina. Though - there's more to the pills than just being part of that canon story. It's like as if Sherlock is captioned with the statement: "Takes every unforseeable risk if not prevented from doing so."

**Posted by 221B Baker Street** October 29, 2012 11:49 pm

Iwantthatcoat wrote:
I am disappointed Sherlock didn't pocket the pill and analyze it chemically to see if he was right.

So am I! I thought it was Sherlock's nature to get to know the truth, especially taking into account his willingness to prove his being wiser than the others, so I was highly disappointed that he ignored the pills analyzing.

**Posted by Davina** October 30, 2012 7:22 am

Wouldn't the police have insisted on taking the pills away to have them analysed to ensure they contained the same poison as that which had been used for the 'suicides'?

**Posted by 221B Baker Street** October 30, 2012 11:32 am

You're right, but Sherlock could have thought of some way out... perhaps, taking some of the pill's inside stuff.

**Posted by Harriet** October 30, 2012 11:37 am

Or Lestrade would tell him the result if only Sherlock would ask politely?

Last edited by Harriet (October 30, 2012 11:39 am)

**Posted by veecee** October 30, 2012 6:28 pm

Politely. Ha, ha!

**Posted by Ronny Dax** October 30, 2012 6:35 pm

And I don't think he would tell it to Sherlock if he was right. That would just magnify his oversized ego and that is the least thing Lestrade wants.

**Posted by QuiteExtraordinary** October 30, 2012 8:49 pm

221B Baker Street wrote:
Iwantthatcoat wrote:
I am disappointed Sherlock didn't pocket the pill and analyze it chemically to see if he was right.
So am I! I thought it was Sherlock's nature to get to know the truth, especially taking into account his willingness to prove his being wiser than the others, so I was highly disappointed that he ignored the pills analyzing.

Perhaps he was so convinced to have chosen the right one that he didn't even bother to analyse them anymore? He is sure, he doesn't care what people think, the cabbie is dead, so there is no need to prove anything. Everybody else is not sure at all, of course. John thinks Sherlock is completely mad and a danger to himself.